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The French esotericist [[Éliphas Lévi]] popularised the term "occultism" in the 1850s. His reinterpretation of traditional esoteric ideas has led to him being called the origin of "the occultist current properly so-called." | The French esotericist [[Éliphas Lévi]] popularised the term "occultism" in the 1850s. His reinterpretation of traditional esoteric ideas has led to him being called the origin of "the occultist current properly so-called." | ||
In the | Unlike older forms of esotericism, occultism does not reject "scientific progress or modernity." In his work about Lévi, the German historian of religion Julian Strube has argued that the occultist wish for a "synthesis" of religion, science, and philosophy directly resulted from the context of contemporary socialism and progressive Catholicism. Similar to spiritualism, but in declared opposition to it, the emergence of occultism should thus be seen within the context of radical social reform, which was often concerned with establishing new forms of "scientific religion" while at the same time propagating the revival of an ancient tradition of "true religion." | ||
Another feature of occultists is that—unlike earlier esotericists—they often openly distanced themselves from [[Christianity]], in some cases (like that of [[Aleister Crowley]]) even adopting explicitly anti-Christian stances. This reflected how pervasive the influence of secularisation had been on all areas of European society. In rejecting Christianity, these occultists sometimes turned towards pre-Christian belief systems and embraced forms of Modern [[Paganism]], while others instead took influence from the religions of Asia, such as [[Hindu]]ism and [[Buddhism]]. In various cases, certain occultists did both. | |||
Another characteristic of these occultists was the emphasis that they placed on "the spiritual realization of the individual," an idea that would strongly influence the twentieth-century [[New Age]] and Human Potential Movement. This spiritual realization was encouraged both through traditional Western 'occult sciences' like alchemy and [[ritual magic]], but by the start of the twentieth century had also begun to include practices drawn from non-Western contexts, such as [[yoga]]. | |||
==Modern usage== | ==Modern usage== | ||
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==Occultism and technology== | ==Occultism and technology== | ||
Recently scholars have offered perspectives on the occult as intertwined with media and technology. Examples include the work of film and media theorist Jeffrey Sconce and religious studies scholar John Durham Peters, both of whom suggest that occult movements historically utilize media and apparati as tools to reveal hidden aspects of reality or laws of nature. Erik Davis in his book ''Techgnosis'' gives an overview of occultism both ancient and modern from the perspective of cybernetics and information technologies. | Recently scholars have offered perspectives on the occult as intertwined with media and technology. Examples include the work of film and media theorist Jeffrey Sconce and religious studies scholar John Durham Peters, both of whom suggest that occult movements historically utilize media and apparati as tools to reveal hidden aspects of reality or laws of nature. Erik Davis in his book ''Techgnosis'' gives an overview of occultism both ancient and modern from the perspective of cybernetics and information technologies. | ||
==Major figures== | |||
In the English-speaking world, prominent figures in the development of occultism included [[Helena Blavatsky]] and other figures associated with her [[Theosophy|Theosophical]] Society. | |||
Senior figures in the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]] like William Wynn Westcott and [[Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers]], as well as other individuals such as Paschal Beverly Randolph, Emma Hardinge Britten, [[Arthur Edward Waite]], and—in the early twentieth century—[[Aleister Crowley]], [[Dion Fortune]], and [[Israel Regardie]]. | |||
More modern influences include [[Anton LaVey]] and [[Damien Echols]]. | |||
==Popular culture== | ==Popular culture== | ||